Author: Submitted

A two-vehicle accident that occurred on I-75 in Crisp County last night has claimed the lives of both drivers. According to a WALB report, the drivers were identified as Desiaree Coley, 27, and Cassidy Lott Esterson, 35. Esterson was from Douglas. The WALB report, citing an investigation by the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, said the accident took place around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. The investigation revealed that Esterson was traveling north in the southbound lane and collided with Coley near mile marker 103 north of Cordele. Just before the crash happened, a motorist had called 911 and reported that a…

By: Stan Popovich There are many reasons why some people are reluctant to get help for their mental health or addiction issues. In addition, many people are not sure what to do when encouraging someone to get the help they need for their mental health. As a result, here are seven suggestions on how to convince a person struggling to get some assistance. 1. Talk to the person instead of talking at them: Nobody wants to be lectured or yelled at. The person who is struggling is scared and they need help in overcoming their fears and resistance to getting some…

A 30-year-old Broxton woman was arrested on animal cruelty charges after authorities received a report of dogs left inside a home without food or water. According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, on February 7, 2025, an officer responded to a North Ridge Drive address where three dogs had been left inside the house. The report says that the ribs of two of the dogs were visible and there was no food or water for the dogs. The officer learned that the resident of the home was Sarah Davis, 30. He contacted Davis who, according to the report,…

By Jack Lingenfelter, National FFA Southern Region Vice President Growth comes from tension. A rubber band, when stretched, becomes bigger and more flexible. The same principle applies to leaders — challenges and pressures help you grow and become more capable. My mentor once gave me a rubber band and used it to teach me an important lesson: growth comes from pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. I now have the privilege of pushing my own boundaries and comfort levels as one of six elected national officers leading the National FFA Organization. It is a huge honor to represent and serve…

The Coffee Middle School Trojans picked up two big wins last week against Pine Grove and Valdosta. Conley McDaniel drove in four runs on two hits to lead Coffee A Team past Pine Grove 16-1 on Tuesday. McDaniel hit a home run to center field in the first inning, scoring three runs, and singled in the second inning, scoring one. The Trojans scored ten runs in the first inning on the way to victory. Jonah Squires singled, scoring one run, Ryder Elston grounded out, scoring two runs, Peyton Adams singled, scoring one run, Cole Deems doubled, scoring two runs, and…

The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Coffee County closed permanently last week. FEMA representatives relocated to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Center (BRC) and Business Resource Assessment Center (BRAC) to continue assisting survivors for Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. The Coffee County BRC is now located at the Satilla Regional Library. FEMA representatives will be there starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday–Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday; closed Sunday. The Feb. 7 deadline for Georgia survivors of Tropical Storm Debby…

CHS FBLA members continue to “Embrace the Challenge” during the 2024-2025 school year as they celebrated National FBLA Week, February 9-15, 2025. The Future Business Leaders of America is a national career and technical student organization that provides personal growth, leadership development, and career preparation opportunities for students in Business education. FBLA members began the week with spirit as they wore their FBLA t-shirts on Monday. They followed up on Tuesday with their monthly meeting in conjunction with the Douglas Kiwanis Club where they learned the importance of continuing to pursue leadership and community service throughout one’s lifetime. On Wednesday,…

After splitting in the regular season, CCA handled Robert Toombs Christian Academy on Thursday to advance to Friday’s region championship game versus First Preparatory Christian Academy (FPCA). The Patriots came out firing and played aggressive defense to lead 13-3 and 33-10 at the end of the first two quarters. RTCA composed themselves at the half and put up a fight in the third quarter, closing the gap to 44-27. The Patriots, however, squelched any further advances, winning decidedly 58-41. Blake Bryant led the team with a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Senior Jonathan Rutland bagged 16 points…

The last of 76 defendants in a major South Georgia drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to federal prison, wrapping up an investigation into a gang-coordinated conspiracy that operated inside and outside Georgia prisons. David D. Young, a/k/k “Khaos,” 44, of Hortense, Georgia, was sentenced to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A co-defendant, Blake K. Screen, 36, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 100 months in prison just five months after his conviction at trial…

Over 200 museum professionals recently descended upon Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual meeting of the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM). They arrived from all regions of the state, from Rockmart to Thomasville to Savannah. The theme of the 2025 conference was “The Whole Story is the Meaning.” Attendees participated in a variety of sessions and workshops ranging from developing education programs to designing eye-catching exhibits and visiting with vendors whose products and services target the field. Many Baldwin and Putnam County museums and cultural institutions opened their doors to attendees for tours and events. Georgia College and State University welcomed…